Sweden

Alicia Ortstad was brushed off before finally discovering she had a rare form of bone cancer

Ulf Kristersson says ‘hostile intent cannot be ruled out’ as increased surveillance follows suspected cable sabotage The Swedish prime minister has said that his country is neither at war nor at peace as he announced that Sweden would be sending armed forces into the Baltic Sea for the first time as part of increased surveillance efforts amid a spate of […]

Based on a real mass killing, this 16th-century tale of backstabbing and beheadings is a clunker with a laddish edge‘A great deal of this actually happened,” reads the title card at the start of this action-packed historical epic. Possibly. But it’s unlikely that anyone actually said these words. Like an episode of Game of Thrones scripted by Guy […]

Five entire families can be killed, totalling 30 wolves, in move campaigners say is illegal under EU lawSweden’s wolf hunt starts on Thursday, with the country aiming to halve the population of the endangered predator.The Swedish government has given the green light for five entire wolf families, a total of 30 wolves, to be killed in a hunt campaigners […]

Academic Danilo Brozović says studies of failed civilisations all point in one direction – today’s society needs radical transformation to surviveFor someone who has examined 361 studies and 73 books on societal collapses, Danilo Brozović’s conclusion on what must happen to avoid today’s world imploding is both disarmingly simple and a daunting […]

Roger Read, Tom Wilson, John Harris and Barrie Baldelli on Labour’s plans to reform local governmentMartin Kettle agrees with the government favouring “English counties, not regions, as an essential building block of a modern network” (We now have a plan to make England’s local government work – but I fear party politics will trash it, 19 […]

Foreign minister says China denied request for prosecutor to investigate onboard Yi Peng 3, which sailed over cablesSweden has accused China of denying a request for Swedish prosecutors to board a Chinese ship that has been linked to the cutting of two undersea cables in the Baltic despite Beijing pledging “cooperation” with regional authorities.The Yi […]

Amid claims of sabotage of undersea cables, a small wooden structure houses a key cog in Europe’s digital connectivityAt the end of an unmarked path on a tiny island at the edge of Stockholm’s extensive Baltic Sea archipelago lies an inconspicuous little wooden cabin, painted a deep shade of red. Water gently laps the snow-dusted rocks, and the smell of […]

Temperatures expected to reach about 10C in Copenhagen and highs of 5-6C in Oslo, Stockholm and HelsinkiNordic countries are often associated with cold, snowy winters and temperatures well below zero celsius. However, this year unseasonably mild weather is forecast to move in across Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland over the Christmas period, with […]

Relatives say involving gallerist David Zwirner would lead to ‘commercialisation’ of Swedish painter’s workThe family of the Swedish artist Hilma af Klint claim that a potential agreement between the foundation responsible for preserving her work and the gallerist David Zwirner could lead to a “plundering” of her world-renowned abstract art.Klint […]

For decades, the authorities in Sweden have encouraged people to drink responsibly – and with a state alcohol monopoly, strict rules and growing abstinence, they seem to be succeedingChristmas is synonymous with overindulgence, especially of drink. Sometimes the weather is an excuse: historically, alcohol was regarded as a way to warm up. Alcohol […]

Head north, avoid light pollution and seek out high ground – how to plan to see the northern lightsThe northern lights lit up the skies across the UK and Europe several times this year, and experts are predicting 2025 will be a great year for spotting the often elusive light show.The dazzling natural phenomenon, also known as the aurora borealis, has been […]

Hotel incident case closed due to lack of evidenceSwedish media had reported Mbappé was suspectMbappé’s legal team had dismissed reports as falseSwedish prosecutors have dropped a rape investigation that was reportedly launched in connection with Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October.In a statement released on Thursday, lead investigator […]

Last month two Baltic Sea cables were damaged and experts say Australia’s cables are not immune from threats. How worried should we be?Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than 1m kilometres of cables snake along the world’s ocean floor, ferrying data between distant lands. […]

Apps and booklets are offering advice on how to build a bunker, stockpile food and live without electricity in case the worst happensGermany is developing an app to help people locate the nearest bunker in the event of attack. Sweden is distributing a 32-page pamphlet titled If Crisis or War Comes. Half a million Finns have already downloaded an emergency […]

PM says Beijing has been asked to cooperate after Yi Peng 3 vessel was seen in area where cables were severedSweden has announced that it has sent a formal request to China for cooperation over the suspected sabotage of two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea.The prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, said on Thursday that Swedish authorities were seeking […]

Regional leaders meet after undersea telecoms cables severed, while Chinese ship remains at anchor nearbyThe Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, has said the Baltic sea is now a “high risk” zone as he met Nordic and Baltic leaders days after a suspected sabotage attack on undersea cables.The Swedish prime minister declined to speculate on who may […]

For decades, Swedish politics has promoted individual success. Now an official booklet urges us to unite ‘in case of crisis or war’ Swedes are generally not known to panic or overreact. But many of us are feeling a little shaken after a booklet with a soldier in camouflage holding a machine gun, with a fighter jet tearing through the sky in the […]

Tess Merkel Solomons bewails ‘disgusting’ treatment of husband after he missed post-Brexit application deadlineA singer with a Swedish disco band who performed at this year’s Eurovision has told of the “dehumanising” and “distressing” consequences of Brexit after her British husband’s application to remain in Sweden was rejected.Tess Merkel […]

Peter Carlsson says $1bn to $1.2bn needed to restore business touted as potential European rival to Asian firmsBusiness live – latest updatesThe chief executive of Northvolt has resigned, after the Swedish battery startup filed for bankruptcy protection in the US.Peter Carlsson, who has led Northvolt since 2016, will step aside with immediate effect, the […]

Investigators gather evidence at two Baltic sites while Danish navy is shadowing Chinese cargo shipSwedish police investigating the believed sabotage of two fibre-optic undersea cables in the Baltic Sea have said a Chinese ship off the coast of Denmark was “of interest” as Danish officials said its navy was shadowing a Chinese-registered cargo ship.The […]